Amazon Video On Demand Review

Pros

Purchase or rental options

HD content over the web

Can view without Web connection

Cons

Compressed video

Quality varies based on source

Some ugly web interfaces

by Jerry Jackson

Amazon’s Video On Demand service lets you rent or buy movies without relying on — or waiting for — an actual physical disk to arrive. So much the better for those of us without an optical drive on our laptops, but is streaming video really ready to supplant DVD and Blu-ray movies on your notebook? We examined standard definition and high definition movies from Amazon’s streaming service to determine whether you can finally wave goodbye to disk-based movie watching on your notebook.

When you visit the Video On Demand section of Amazon.com and choose the “Watch Now” feature, you get instant access to your video on a Mac or PC through your web browser using Adobe Flash Player. The videos play back right in your computer’s web browser without requiring the download of large files or installation of video player software.

Video Playback QualityMuch like Netflix’s Watch Instantly service, playback quality from Amazon Video On Demand varies from one movie or TV show to another, owing largely to each studio’s preferred compression software. That said, Amazon does add some interesting wrinkles that you won’t find on Netflix. First, the toolbar interface for controlling video playback isn’t consistent from one Amazon video to another. For example, while watching episodes of one of your favorite TV shows, the control interface might vanish in fullscreen mode after you stop moving your mouse around the screen. However, the control interface might stay on the screen during the entire episode for another program. Even after watching dozens of TV episodes on Amazon I can’t figure out why that happens.

Amazon Standard Definition content upscaled to 1920×1080 resolution:

As with Netflix, compression artifacts are the only obvious issue with playback quality of the videos. Dark scenes or shadows often apear “blotchy” or “pixelated” even when watching HD content. One thing I can say in favor of Amazon is that upscaled standard definition content usually looks better from Amazon than what I see from the upscaled standard definition content from Netflix.

Amazon HD (720p) content upscaled to 1920×1080 resolution:

Amazon’s Video On Demand service, formerly known as Amazon Unbox, is quickly becoming a popular source for online streaming of movies and TV shows because the library of titles available through Amazon is noticeably superior to what you’ll find through Netflix’s Watch Instantly service. Amazon is probably able to secure the rights to more new releases than Netflix because the pricing structure for Amazon is different. Rather than a low monthy fee like Netflix, Amazon requires you to pay for every video download either as a limited-time rental or outright purchase, though the latter option is considerably higher in price. Some TV shows or older films are available for free, but most standard definition movie rentals are $3.99. These same titles are available for purchase at an average price of $14.99 for newer releases. High definition (720p) purchases — where they are available — usually cost a few dollars more. TV episodes are available for purchase only at $1.99 (480p) or $2.99 (720p) per episode.

ConclusionBottom line: Amazon is more expensive than Netflix, especially if you are a frequent downloader, but your extra cash gets you extra features: Wider movie selection, better upscaled video content, and the option to actually purchase a digital movie file, rather than rent. If I’m willing to pay a bit more I can use Amazon to download new releases almost as soon as they are available on DVD and Blu-ray. Amazon’s Unbox Player also lets me watch movies and TV when I’m on a plane without an internet connection. Despite these advantages, Amazon Video On Demand is in no position to displace conventional DVD or Bluy-Ray consumption is you’re a stickler for image quality, as the associated video compression just can’t compete with uncompressed, disk-based video. Amazon, like Netflix, asks you to trade convenience for video quality, and for frequent travelers that’s probably a worthwhile exchange.